Travis Petty

Travis Hubert Petty passed away peacefully on December 21st, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He is survived by his wife Berenice Wieland Petty, his children, Brian (Washington, D.C.), Paul (Rochester, MN), David (Keller, TX), Kevin (Lansdale, PA), Sean (Monument, CO), Karen (Seattle, WA), and Michael (Boise, ID), as well as 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Travis was born in Clarksville, Texas, July 31, 1928 to Melissia Kathleen Mauldin Petty, and Joseph Hubert Petty. He was the oldest of five children that included his siblings Lloyd, Patsy, Sharla and Janelle.

Travis briefly attended the University of Texas (Austin) before he migrated to El Paso, Texas where he began his career with the El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG) in 1947. In real life Horatio Alger story fashion, Travis started his career in the mailroom and eventually rose to become Chairman and CEO of EPNG’s successor, the El Paso Company. The El Paso Company was acquired by the Burlington Northern Railroad Company in 1982. He served as Vice-Chariman of the combined entity until his retirement.

Travis was a benevolent philanthropist who supported many charities and causes including the Catholic Church, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Travis enjoyed playing and watching sports and loved to travel, which was beneficial as his career took him all over the world.

He also served as chairman of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Southern Gas Association, as well as on the Board of Directors of El Paso National Bank, Texas Commerce Bank and the El Paso Electric Company.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 23 18 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado. Burial will follow at Crystal Valley Cemetery in Manitou Springs.